Mehthod of monitoring an eating utensil and smart eating utensil

Abstract

An eating utensil (100) is provided which comprises a handle (120) and a food area (110). The eating utensil (100) comprises an accelerometer sensor a gyroscope sensor (150). With the accelerometer sensor the gyroscope sensor (150), the movement of the eating utensil (100) as well as its orientation is detected. The orientation as well as a movement of the eating utensil (100) can be compared with a predetermined ideal traversal path and orientation of an eating utensil (100) and the user may receive corresponding feedback if the detected path or orientation of the eating utensil (100) differs from the ideal utensil traversal path or orientation.

1 . A method of monitoring an eating utensil, wherein the eating utensil comprises a food area, a handle, an accelerometer sensor and a gyroscope sensor for detecting an orientation and path of the eating utensil and a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly transmit the detected accelerometer and gyroscope data, said method comprising the steps of:
 wirelessly receiving the detected accelerometer and gyroscope data by a smart device,   comparing the detected orientation and path of the eating utensil with a reference orientation and reference path, and   outputting a correction indication if the detected orientation and path of the eating utensil deviates from the reference orientation and reference path.   
     
     
         2 . A method of monitoring an eating utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein the eating utensil further comprises a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of food in the food area, and a weight sensor for detecting a weight of food in the food area, said method further comprising the step of receiving the temperature data and the weight data by the smart device. 
     
     
         3 . A method of monitoring an eating utensil according to  claim 2 , further comprising the step of notifying a user if the temperature of food on the food area is too high or too cold or if the weight of the food portion is not as per reference guideline. 
     
     
         4 . System of monitoring an eating utensil, comprising:
 an eating utensil which has a food area and a handle, an accelerometer sensor and a gyroscope sensor and a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly transmit the detected accelerometer and gyroscope data to a smart device, and   a smart device configured to wirelessly receive the transmitted accelerometer and gyroscope data from the eating utensil, to compare the detected orientation and path of the eating utensil with a reference orientation and path and to output a correction indication if the detected orientation and path of the eating utensil deviates from the reference orientation and reference path.   
     
     
         5 . A computer program comprising program code means for causing a device to carry out the method of monitoring an eating utensil as defined in  claim 1 , when the computer program is run on the device.